Soroti Diocese raises sh1.9b for cathedral project
This effort began when the Bishop of Soroti, Rt. Rev. Dr Joseph Eciru Oliach launched a campaign encouraging each parish to contribute sh150m.
Bishop of Soroti, Rt Rev. Dr Joseph Eciru Oliach. (File)
Habert Paul Eyoku
Journalist @New Vision
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Soroti Catholic Diocese has, over the past three years, successfully raised sh1.9b to support the construction of the Regina Caeli Cathedral in Aminit Madera.
This effort began when the Bishop of Soroti, Rt. Rev. Dr Joseph Eciru Oliach launched a campaign encouraging each parish to contribute sh150m.
The new cathedral is designed to accommodate over 4,000 worshippers and is expected to stand for more than 200 years.
Rev. Fr Silver Opio, who is coordinating the fundraising efforts, shared that ten parishes across the diocese have collectively raised sh1b towards this noble project.
He also mentioned that construction is currently at the pillar and column stage, and he's inviting local Christians to sponsor individual columns or pillars as a personal, group, or family initiative.
In a remarkable show of support, Wilfred Oluka Okeriau, the headteacher of Soroti Senior Secondary School, contributed sh4m for the construction and pledged an additional sh1m as an individual donor.
The overall cost of constructing the Regina Caeli Cathedral is projected to exceed sh8b. Currently, the diocese is seeking to raise more than sh6.1b to complete the project, which will be the first cathedral established for the Soroti Catholic Diocese since it was carved out from Tororo Archdiocese.